The reasons why people like whipping are as diverse as the reasons why they enjoy any other D&S play; many people, however, settle on whipping as an activity of choice. This is probably because whipping is associated with rigorous adult punishment (in contrast to a spanking, which is usually considered a more childish punishment) and also because whipping is an activity so associated with sadomasochism as to be a cliché. D&Sers, and particularly those in the Scene (as opposed to strictly private practitioners), display a strong tendency to observe and to revere tradition. Many people who would not otherwise have experimented with whipping have become adept because it is a fixture of D&S erotica. Few, however, continue unless they find the experience to be erotic.
A whipping, like any other form of corporal punishment, is a physical manifestation of the same power exchange which others may experience uniquely through psychological control. The pain and disgrace of punishment may elicit powerful feelings of submission. With each blow, the reality of the dominant's power is impressed upon the submissive, who may in response grow more sexually excited.
Typically, submissives accept whippings as a demonstration of devotion. Both partners take pride in each other's performances: Dominants are often emotionally gratified that the submissive will go the extra mile.

One of the most satisfying things I've ever done was a caning with Adida. I gave her 100 strokes with a very thin, whippy cane in that little area where the butt joins the thighs. She was in this perfect submissive posture, her butt up in the air, her face way down on the bed, and her toes pointed just the way she'd been told. I instructed her not to count any strokes that weren't hard. She never cheated. On the last 10, I told her that if she moved at all. I'd start over. I kept increasing the intensity. Adida did not move. The control that she bad to do that, and the head space that she was in in order to do that, made me so hard. it was really beautiful.         -MR. HAPPY

Among the whipping enthusiasts we interviewed there was virtual consensus that, in its highest form, whipping leads to ecstasy. This ecstasy is usually described as profoundly spiritual, even as an out-of-body experience.

When Cybele and I are well merged in this sort of spiritual space, and she does this kind of flagellation, I transcend. I don't escape myself, I go beyond myself. I'm there. Cybele's term [for it] is flying; my arms start to move as if I'm flying. My mental imagery is of being above the clouds, and then flying down and investigating, it's really more like an out-of-body experience than anything I have ever had, and I've done a lot of psychic work, including out-of-body experience.         -JAMES W.

I really like to be flogged. There's a state I get into which I call "the zone." When I'm in this state, it's as if, no matter what is being done, it doesn't really hurt; all it does is put me into this alternate state. Fear can block it, or being too tired can block it, or trying to make it happen can block it, but when everything's working tight and I have my breathing down properly, each new strike, each new blow, seems to add to the euphoric and ecstatic state.          -MR. HAPPY

The first time I was seriously whipped, I started chanting to myself, "I am powerful; I am strong; pain cannot harm me." And that became a little mantra. Every time I would receive a blow, it would just energize me and make me feel stronger and more powerful.          -j.

My favorite thing of all is flogging. Both receiving and giving, it's very physical to give the flogging, and receiving it is very cool, crisp - it's a great, refreshing feeling. When giving, I put my martial-arts [skills] into it and really throw my hip in. That's a very satisfying feeling. You wear yourself out.         -ADIDA